"A smart phone would go for over a $1,000. These guys on the outside are making good money trying to get it on the inside," said Moseley.

And on the inside, phones are used to carry out criminal enterprises.

In January, 15 current and former corrections officer along with 19 current and former inmates at Autry State Prison in Mitchell were charged in a massive fraud and money laundering scheme carried out from inside the prison by use of illegal cell phones.

At Valdosta State Prison, convicted killer Donald Hinley was charged with using smuggled cell phones to run a drug trafficking operation from his cell. He's also accused of instructing an inmate at Telfair State Prison to murder a fellow inmate.

While crackdowns are working, the fight to keep them out will only get more difficult

"We've cracked down so hard on it and it's harder for the inmates to get. Now you have more and more trying to get it because it's paying more," said Moseley.

Now, it appears only federal intervention to block cell phone communication is the answer to solving the problem.

The GDC Commissioner went before the FCC last year asking for federal restrictions to be lifted so cell phone service could be jammed at prisons, but for now they say it poses a risk of hindering emergency contact between prison staff.